Anonymous wrote:There is a part of me that finds the whole process really unjust, especially for something as important as a child's education. It's left completely to chance. We didn't get shut out completely -- got into our IB school -- but it wasn't one of our top choices because it isn't a viable long term option. So my choices now are either to play this totally random lottery again next year and hope my kid gets lucky, pay for private school, or move. It sucks.

Or go to your neighborhood school. Interesting how you don't list that as a choice.

Anonymous wrote:I have been waitlisted for everything for three years in a row. Here's what I think: this is a taste of what poorer people experience ALL THE TIME. You watch other people's kids go to a fancier, nicer, wonderful school that you could have gone to....if not for the fact that you lost the lottery, the lottery being who gets born rich or poor. It seems so unfair. It is unfair. This is how other people -- most of the people around the world -- live all the time.

I've struck out twice now and thought this exact same thing.

Anonymous wrote:You could set your watch to a post like this every year. It's when I know Spring has really arrived.

So true. You can tell us over and over how bad the odds are and we are still angry and surprised that we didn't beat them.

Anonymous wrote:I have been waitlisted for everything for three years in a row. Here's what I think: this is a taste of what poorer people experience ALL THE TIME. You watch other people's kids go to a fancier, nicer, wonderful school that you could have gone to....if not for the fact that you lost the lottery, the lottery being who gets born rich or poor. It seems so unfair. It is unfair. This is how other people -- most of the people around the world -- live all the time.

This is a really true statement. We feel very fortunate that we are in an amazing private program and don't have to feel devastated that we have been shut out two years in a row. And that we have the option to move to a great school district in MD or VA.

But... not everyone has those options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Totally disheartened by a system that gives you the impression of great choices but then dangles them in front of you like candy you can never reach.

This is not how charters are supposed to work, is it? Why can't they expand to absorb the crazy demand?

Sorry, but you sound like a two-year-old

Agree but then again this is Wound Licking Day for many, so I get the knee-jerk "it's not fair" responses.

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

Yeah, but without commenting on the overall thread, I think you're forgetting far more of the IB schools in VA or MoCo are higher caliber than what you get at the majority of IB in DCPS (certainly, the majority of IB people are seeking to avoid via going charter). So the choice aspect is, overall, less necessary. Also they do have school transfer out there - mosey on over to the VA and MD threads and you'll see much discussion of how and whether you can do so. It's not so much having choice that isn't actually choice as it is HAVING to have choice because the non-choice option isn't workable. I think it's particularly acute for certain sub populations (say special needs). And of course for those IB to schools not surrounded by parents who are able to scatter their kids to high performing charters.

I have been waitlisted for everything for three years in a row. Here's what I think: this is a taste of what poorer people experience ALL THE TIME. You watch other people's kids go to a fancier, nicer, wonderful school that you could have gone to....if not for the fact that you lost the lottery, the lottery being who gets born rich or poor. It seems so unfair. It is unfair. This is how other people -- most of the people around the world -- live all the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

OP here: Frankly we'd be okay going to school with our neighbors (middle class, working and poor), but the most motivated of them leave for charters, leaving us with one choice: an Struggling IB that people like me leave ASAP.

I agree that it sucks. It frustrates me that we have created a system where you can live in a neighborhood filled with motivated parents and children, but the IB school sucks because those people are spread out to a bunch of non-neighborhood schools, and some people are shut out of those other options and are stuck with the crap IB school that would be good if those other options didn't exist.

I feel ya.

It's hard, though, to be part of the "solution" rather than perpetuate the "problem" because we want the best for our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree but that's because I got shut out too. If I had gotten in of course I would fee different. So now I can watch my neighbors take their kids to a beautiful space with lots of kids with involved parents, lots of fundraising, awesome after school activities and organic lunches while I drag my kid to our shitty IB, trying to avoid the high sugar free breakfast and crap DCPS contract lunches, with the kids yelling the N word at each other on the playground (I see this daily). I know I sound like a bitch but I'm really pissed.

You have every right to be pissed given the tax dollars DC sucks from us!

+1. My taxes just went up again this year, too. Yet my IB school is just as bad as it was when I moved here 9 years ago pre-kids.

Even after all your support?...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your taxes (in particular, property taxes, which I assume you're referring to) are likely much lower than they would be in any surrounding jurisdiction. There is this myth that DC taxes are high, but it's just not true.

Yeah but income taxes are amongst the highest in the country in DC.

You're getting taxed no matter where you are. In Florida and Texas - states with no income tax - property taxes, annual vehicle fees, etc are extremely high. One way or another, you PAY. So let's stop bitching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

OP here: Frankly we'd be okay going to school with our neighbors (middle class, working and poor), but the most motivated of them leave for charters, leaving us with one choice: an Struggling IB that people like me leave ASAP.

I agree that it sucks. It frustrates me that we have created a system where you can live in a neighborhood filled with motivated parents and children, but the IB school sucks because those people are spread out to a bunch of non-neighborhood schools, and some people are shut out of those other options and are stuck with the crap IB school that would be good if those other options didn't exist.

Well, the flip side of this is that there could be zero choice and then all of you are stuck putting your kids in the "crap" IB school.
But I guess misery loves company?

Our IB would be a great school if all the IB kids went there. FYI we are in a private so I'm part of the problem but that doesn't make the observation any less true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

OP here: Frankly we'd be okay going to school with our neighbors (middle class, working and poor), but the most motivated of them leave for charters, leaving us with one choice: an Struggling IB that people like me leave ASAP.

I agree that it sucks. It frustrates me that we have created a system where you can live in a neighborhood filled with motivated parents and children, but the IB school sucks because those people are spread out to a bunch of non-neighborhood schools, and some people are shut out of those other options and are stuck with the crap IB school that would be good if those other options didn't exist.

It's cute that you think that would happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

OP here: Frankly we'd be okay going to school with our neighbors (middle class, working and poor), but the most motivated of them leave for charters, leaving us with one choice: an Struggling IB that people like me leave ASAP.

I agree that it sucks. It frustrates me that we have created a system where you can live in a neighborhood filled with motivated parents and children, but the IB school sucks because those people are spread out to a bunch of non-neighborhood schools, and some people are shut out of those other options and are stuck with the crap IB school that would be good if those other options didn't exist.

Well, the flip side of this is that there could be zero choice and then all of you are stuck putting your kids in the "crap" IB school.
But I guess misery loves company?

Anonymous wrote:Your taxes (in particular, property taxes, which I assume you're referring to) are likely much lower than they would be in any surrounding jurisdiction. There is this myth that DC taxes are high, but it's just not true.

Yeah but income taxes are amongst the highest in the country in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School choice because if you lived in VA or MoCo your school would have been decided for you - at kindergarten, earliest - based on your address. At least you have a *chance* for something other than your address-based school. Some win, some don't.

OP here: Frankly we'd be okay going to school with our neighbors (middle class, working and poor), but the most motivated of them leave for charters, leaving us with one choice: an Struggling IB that people like me leave ASAP.

I agree that it sucks. It frustrates me that we have created a system where you can live in a neighborhood filled with motivated parents and children, but the IB school sucks because those people are spread out to a bunch of non-neighborhood schools, and some people are shut out of those other options and are stuck with the crap IB school that would be good if those other options didn't exist.